Man in MAGA hat arrested after allegedly attacking protesters with bear repellent at anti-Donald Trump rally
California police arrested a man who sprayed protesters with bear repellent after violence broke out at an anti-Donald Trump rally.
The Santa Monica Police Department announced 32-year-old David Dempsey was arrested Saturday on multiple charges, including prohibited use of a tear gas weapon and assault with a caustic chemical.
A video posted online of the incident shows a man wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat spraying a crowd of people after the two groups became physical with each other. He momentarily walks away, then comes back to spray a man who was being held on the ground.
The Santa Monica Police Department said in a statement those impacted by the spray were treated by Harbor Services officers and the Santa Monica Fire Department.”
“Protesters from both groups dispersed after the incident but were monitored by officers in the event another escalation started,” police said in a statement. “No further incidents occurred.”
Dempsey has a court date set for Tuesday, online records show. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s inmate search, Dempsey is being held without bail.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man in MAGA hat used bear repellent against protesters, police say
